See all warnings and disclaimers in the first chapter.

A/N: Special thanks to tamingriki, to whom I couldn't reply the normal way. My readers are my inspiration, each and every one of you. Hugs and kisses!

A Time For Healing

For the last many days, Duo had awakened to the gentle, soothing sensation of Heero licking him. Usually along where his neck joined his shoulder. And it was typically accompanied by a hand stroking his stomach or arm. It helped him focus instead on the pleasant motions rather than the burning pain—and he was always in pain. Unless drugged into unconsciousness, his head ached with a vengeance. And the pain behind his eyes was often unbearable.

Yesterday, he'd had his last treatment. Doctor Noin had told him everything had gone well, no complications such as infection or re-growing scar-tissue. She expected him to have a smooth, speedy recovery. Duo hoped so. He was sick, sick, sick of pain. He could tell Heero was tired of it, too, if for different reasons. His Bonded couldn't hide it from him now. Couldn't hide anything from him now.

And yet he was glad, because without Heero he was sure he would have lost his mind. His father had allowed them to stay at Quatre's manor, mostly because he was too worried about his son to travel to and from Hedara, quite some distance from Terra. Duo was eternally grateful to them both.

When he reluctantly woke from a restless sleep, the pain that assaulted him nearly knocked him right back out. Heero wasn't at his side, so he had nothing else on which to focus. Nearly sobbing, he rolled onto his side and buried his face in the soft pillows. Even the soft bandages over his eyes felt rough and chafed his skin.

He didn't hear Heero come in. It just suddenly happened that his Bonded was all around him once more, panting, holding Duo close, whispering words Duo couldn't hear into his mind. He could feel Heero feeling his pain, in a way doubling the effect. But Heero was better at controlling it than Duo, perhaps courtesy of the inherent wildness of his people. After a few breathless moments, the pain began diminishing. Or at least it became bearable.

"Sorry," Heero breathed in his ear, still panting—though less hard now. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't think you'd wake so soon."

"Don't apologize," Duo whispered, barely able to make his voice work at all. "I know you were hungry." And it was strange, because even though Heero had neither told him that nor even thought it, he still knew Heero had gotten up earlier this morning because he was in need of sustenance. But for some reason it was comforting, too.

Heero nuzzled his neck. "It hurts," he hissed, but Duo knew what he was really talking about.

The wolf did not like that there was nothing he could do for Duo. He couldn't take away the pain. There was little he could do at all, in fact, other than take Duo's mind off it. Even as this not-thought flitted across Duo's unconscious mind, Heero made up his mind to distract Duo away from the pain. The not-thought of how he would do it flickered through Duo a split-second before the wolf moved, changing their positions so Duo was flat on his back and Heero hovering over him.

The tiny warning he got wasn't enough to do anything more than send a bright flash of heat through his body as Heero's mouth descended on his. Less than a heartbeat later the clinging blankets were shoved out of the way, Heero's incredibly hot hand closing between his thighs and squeezing Duo through the silk of his pajamas. Duo jumped, his pelvis tilting forward of its own accord, knees lifting and spreading to make room. Just like that the pain vanished to a dim, remote corner of Duo's brain as arousal and pleasure took center-stage.

He couldn't really gasp with Heero kissing the breath out of him, so it came out as more of a strangled moan. Heero's tongue thrust into his mouth so suggestively he found himself flushing, perfectly able to see what was going through his Bonded's mind. Indeed, Heero was making no effort to block his thoughts. He pictured—in vivid detail—turning Duo over and plunging into him, taking him, claiming him.

He didn't feel it when his Bonded removed his pajamas. He was just suddenly aware of his nakedness, of the almost-unbearable heat of Heero's hand on his exposed flesh. Heero's other hand caressed the insides of his thighs, dragging his fingernails lightly over the sensitive skin.

Eventually Duo broke the kiss for fear he would pass out if he didn't breathe soon. Heero chuckled faintly, his lips moving on a slow, wet journey down Duo's jaw to his throat. Here he paused, licking and nipping at the pale skin he seemed to so love laving with attention. It felt good. It always felt so good. It heightened Duo's arousal to the point where he thought he might die if he didn't find release soon.

"I love you," Heero whispered against Duo's neck, the words more felt than heard.

He bit down, hard enough to hurt, and that bright sting of pain sent Duo careening over the edge into tangible bliss. It enfolded him in veritable waves of sensation, rolling over him in smooth swells. He was aware of himself moaning, low in his throat, entire body tense with reaction as his thighs quivered. And because Heero did not cease stroking and squeezing, the pleasure crackled over his nerves in short spurts, making his whole body tremble. It was almost intolerably sweet, and Heero did not stop.

Duo couldn't make his voice work, but he wasn't sure if he would have begged Heero to stop or go on forever. When he opened his mouth the only sound that issued forth was a short moan, a ragged one that tapered off into panting gasps. Heero seemed to take that as an invitation to continue, and his loving ministrations did not stop.

For quite some time.

o8o o8o

"How are you doing, Duo?"

Duo started out of a light doze at the sound of Quatre's voice. His head tilted slightly in the direction of the familiar sound. His whole body felt pleasantly heavy, as if he was melting into the soft, soft mattress. Of course, that heaviness might have something to do with the fact that Heero, in wolf-form, was lying directly on top of him, head resting on his shoulder.

"Better," he replied, even his lips feeling numb with weariness. No, not even that was right. Weary wasn't the right word. Just pleasantly numb.

He heard a shuffle of movement, then a warm kiss pressed to his forehead. "Good. Your father is here to see you."

"Oh," Duo murmured, lips turning up in a faint smile. "How long does he have?"

"Just a few hours," the man himself inserted here. "I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, my boy."

Denan gave his son a hug, wrapping his arms around the boy's torso, which—due to Heero's position—incorporated the young Telmaran too. Duo suspected that was intentional. He couldn't lift his arms to hug his father back, which didn't bother him as much as he would have thought.

"Doctor Noin said she thought I was doing well," he said—probably unnecessarily. He was sure his father had already talked to her about his condition.

"Yes," the man said, and Duo heard the smile. "Heero, Quatre's Telmaran friend told me about what happened between you and Duo, so I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The way he said it, he made it sound like he thought it was a mistake on your part, but I'm grateful. I'm grateful you've been there for my son when I couldn't."

Duo was surprised to feel his father plant a kiss on top of Heero's head. Heero was surprised, too. He raised his head enough to lick Denan's cheek, making a soft little whine.

For a few hours his father sat beside the bed, holding Duo's hand while he talked about little things. Preparations for the upcoming coronation, some changes in the running of things, gossip around the Imperial Court, and the tangible excitement in the air concerning the fact that Quatre Winner was to be the new emperor.

Duo contributed nothing, but he squeezed his father's hand now and then just to let him know he was still listening; then his father had to go. Within minutes of being left alone again, Duo was dozing off. Heero stirred a little, licking Duo's neck.

"You're sure tired, love," he murmured.

Duo grinned faintly. "You should know why. If I'd known your 'treatment' would be so effective, I would have asked for it a long time ago."

He heard a snuffling laugh. "I would have done it a long time ago. You're still not in pain. Or at least, it's much more . . . distant now. I'll 'treat' you again before you go to bed, all right? That way you can sleep the whole night for a change."

At the thought, Duo's body heat rose a few degrees. It sent him into a deep sleep filled with warm, tender dreams.